The Vermont Blueprint: How a Small State Built a Big Soccer Legacy

🟢 Vermont Soccer State by State: Growth on the Rise

Over the past year, the growth of soccer in the state of Vermont has surged to unprecedented heights. Two landmark events—the UVM Men’s Soccer National Championship in December 2024 and the Vermont Green USL2 National Championship on August 2, 2025 at Virtue Field—have sparked a statewide soccer renaissance.

🌟 UVM Men’s Soccer: America East Champions to NCAA National Champions

In December 2024, the University of Vermont Catamounts men’s soccer team, coached by Rob Dow in his seventh season, made history with their first-ever NCAA Division I men’s soccer national championship, defeating Marshall 2‑1 in sudden‑death overtime at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina on December 16, 2024 

That dramatic victory—an overtime golden goal by Maximilian Kissel, who was also man of the match alongside goalkeeper Niklas Herceg—became part of Vermont lore. The match drew more than 6,000 fans in the stadium and captured national headlines 

On social media, the reaction from X was electric:

“The Vermont Catamounts are the 2024 Men's Soccer National Champions This is UVM's first team NCAA title..” —The Athletic via X 
“VERMONT IS A SOCCER STATE! @UVMmsoccer defeats Marshall, 2‑1, to win the 2024 DI #MCollegeCup National Championship!” —NCAA Soccer highlights on X 

Local and state leaders amplified that pride: Vermont Governor Phil Scott tweeted “Vermont proud. #GoCatsGo!”, Senator Peter Welch wrote “All of America is Catamount Country tonight,” and Senator Bernie Sanders echoed a state‑wide sentiment of “unbelievable pride”.

This NCAA title was not only UVM’s first team championship in traditional sports but also the first NCAA team title ever for the America East Conference.

⚽ Vermont Green FC: USL League Two Champions at Virtue Field

Less than eight months later, Vermont soccer history repeated itself—but this time in the semi-professional ranks. Vermont Green FC, founded in 2021 and competing in USL League Two, captured the 2025 USL2 National Championship at home on August 2, 2025, defeating Seattle’s Ballard FC 2‑1 at Virtue Field in Burlington.

Maxi Kissel—fresh off his heroics with UVM in December—scored another dramatic stoppage-time winner for Green, solidifying his emerging legend across Vermont soccer.

Fan demand shattered records: all 2,600 seats sold out in minutes, and over 7,000 attempts logged on ticket platforms. Reporters noted fans perched on shipping containers, hillsides, ladders, even porta‑potties to catch a view. The official attendance in the stadium was 2,700, though estimates suggest thousands more watched from creative vantage points.

This victory elevated Vermont Green’s profile—from a fourth-tier USL2 club to the face of a statewide soccer movement.

📊 Vermont Soccer: History, Culture & Fan Growth

Historical Roots & Infrastructure

• Men’s college soccer at UVM began in 1964 and joined the America East Conference in 1988. Virtue Field, UVM’s campus stadium, is now home to both UVM teams and Vermont Green FC. The venue holds ~2,600 fans and underwent key renovations in 2015–16 including lighting and permanent seating.
  

• Vermont Green FC, while a very young club (est. 2021), plays at Virtue Field and has steadily grown its average attendance from 1,405 in 2022 to 2,431 in 2024.

Attendance & Community Engagement

• UVM’s national championship brought school-wide viewership and galvanizing events across Burlington—a championship parade (January 2025) and heightened media attention lifted the club into everyday conversation.
  

• Vermont Green’s fan base is community‑driven, earning comparisons to clubs like Detroit City and Kingston Stockade. Their environmental mission (One Percent for the Planet, net‑zero commitment) resonates, drawing new fans—even those once uninterested in sports.
  

• Senator Bernie Sanders publicly praised Vermont’s soccer rise, linking cultural pride to success both on and off the pitch.
  

Cultural Shifts & Growing Excitement

• Soccer culture in Vermont shifted from being niche to central—especially in Burlington, now dubbed the “soccer city of the moment”.
  

• Fans began arriving hours early for matches, forming “supporter culture” groups such as the Green Mountain Bhoys. As Tyler Littwin described, the measure of success is how many people line up for tickets, how loud the fans are, and new supporters converting socially and ideologically to the club.
  

• Local coverage by the Burlington Free Press, WCAX, Seven Days and others transformed media narratives, emphasizing dramatic wins, community moments, and athletes’ international, inclusive roster backgrounds.

🔑 Why Soccer Growth Accelerated So Rapidly in Vermont

1. High‑profile success at the top: UVM’s NCAA title in Dec 2024 ignited statewide pride and legitimacy.
   

2. Organized club infrastructure: Vermont Green FC combined sport with social mission, offering fan‑centered matchday experiences and environmental values.
   

3. Compact but passionate community: Burlington’s small size magnifies impact—tickets sold out in seconds, fans camped out, neighbors discussed soccer everywhere.
   

4. Media & social amplification: X/Twitter posts from institutions and elected leaders, broad coverage (WSJ, Guardian, NCAA.com, local press) built narrative momentum.
   

5. Crossover moments: Maxi Kissel’s hero goals for both UVM and Vermont Green united fanbases; symbolism reinforced that Vermont soccer was on a collective ride.
   

🧒⚽ Inspiring the Next Generation: Youth Soccer in Vermont Poised to Soar

The ripple effects of Vermont’s breakout soccer success are already being felt across youth soccer programs throughout the state. From Burlington to Brattleboro, aspiring players are watching their hometown heroes make headlines—and realizing that greatness is possible without leaving Vermont.

Youth soccer participation in Vermont has historically trailed behind neighboring states like Massachusetts and New York, but that may soon change. Coaches across the Green Mountain State report increased interest in soccer clinics, tryouts, and travel teams, particularly in the U8–U14 age brackets. The Vermont Soccer Association (VSA), which governs youth leagues across the state, noted a 12% increase in player registration between 2023 and 2025, its largest two-year jump in over a decade.

Kids have now watched UVM and Vermont Green win national titles on the same field they play on. It’s no longer just about watching pro soccer on TV—it's happening in front of their eyes, in their town.

With UVM’s Maximilian Kissel and Vermont Green’s roster becoming local legends, these athletes now serve as immediate role models for Vermont’s soccer-playing youth. Their paths show that players can rise through Vermont’s soccer ecosystem—from local youth clubs to high-level college or even pre-professional ranks—all without leaving the state.

The momentum also presents opportunities for infrastructure growth: better training facilities, increased funding for youth academies, and greater investment in coaching education. And with the national spotlight on Vermont, it wouldn't be surprising to see more scouts, recruiters, and professional partnerships pop up in the state.

Ultimately, the championships and sold-out matches have done more than lift trophies—they’ve lifted belief. Belief that Vermont is now a place where soccer matters, and where a child starting on a patchy field in Montpelier or Rutland can dream of lifting silverware on Virtue Field one day.

The next few years will be crucial. Will Vermont’s soccer surge lead to a new generation of homegrown talent? With momentum building and dreams expanding, the state appears poised to become a powerful incubator of youth soccer development in New England and beyond.

💬 Final Thoughts

The past year has transformed soccer in Vermont from a quiet sport into a roaring statewide phenomenon. The University of Vermont’s historic NCAA championship in 2024 captured hearts, and Vermont Green FC’s 2025 USL League Two national championship at Virtue Field reinforced that Vermont isn’t just a soccer supporter—it’s now a soccer state.

Growth has sprouted from elite-level success, grassroots commitment, environmental values, and a culture hungry for identity and community. With stadium expansions, expanding supporter groups, broadcast partnerships, and further media attention, Vermont is positioned to be a model for soccer culture beyond league level, where connection matters as much as competition.